Topical Minoxidil for Hair Growth in Alopecia Areata and Androgenetica

The document from 1987 provides a preliminary review of the use of topical minoxidil for hair growth in patients with alopecia areata and alopecia androgenetica. The study found that topical minoxidil promotes hair regrowth in patients with these conditions, but the proportion of patients who will attain cosmetically acceptable hair regrowth remains to be determined. The study also notes that clinical assessment of hair growth is problematic, and the use of subjective terms for describing results of treatment in the literature has made it difficult to analyze the findings from clinical trials reported to date. Overall, the study suggests that topical minoxidil may be an effective treatment for hair loss, but more research is needed to determine its efficacy and the factors that predict response.